Nikon 1 J4 sports new sensor, improved AF system, and Wi-Fi

Nikon's recently announced flagship V3 1 System camera gave us a look at the latest technology the company has been working on, and many of those features have trickled down to the new, less-expensive J4.

The compact J4 sports an aluminum housing and has a 3", 1.04 million dot touchscreen LCD for composing and reviewing your photos. It can record video at 1080/60p as well as 720/120p for some high speed action. As with most cameras these days, you'll find a Wi-Fi feature on the J4. To keep the size of the camera down, Nikon is now using microSD cards, instead of the traditional SD cards found on previous models.

The Nikon 1 J4 features an 18MP CX-format sensor (presumably the same as on the V3) which sports an improved Hybrid AF system. The AF system now has 171 contrast detect and 105 phase detect points, which allow for nearly 100% coverage across the frame. This, along with the Expeed 4 processor, allow for burst shooting at 20 fps with continuous autofocus (and 60 fps without). The camera has an ISO range of 160 - 12800, and uses multi-shot noise reduction at the top two sensitivities.

The Nikon 1 J4 will be available outside of the U.S., with pricing and kits to be determined. The camera will come in white, silver, black, and metallic orange.

OWN THE MOMENT WITH THE NEW NIKON 1 J4: SPEEDY PERFORMANCE, SOLID BODY, AND WINNING LOOKS

Perfect for those who won’t let life pass them by, the Nikon 1 J4’s powerful combination of acclaimed technology, extraordinary speed, and hassle-free operation leaves nothing to chance. Whether you want to record your baby’s first steps or a photo finish, this is an exceptionally quick system camera that captures the thrills of life with precision. Nikon’s game-changing hybrid AF system now boasts 171 autofocus points, 105 of which are phase-detection points that lock onto movement at breakneck speed. With continuous shooting speeds faster than a D-SLR and remarkably short shooting time lag, the Nikon 1 J4 is ready to capture the action.

The camera boasts the same new 18.4-megapixel CMOS sensor as used in the new Nikon 1 V3, a wide light sensitivity range of ISO 160–12800, and Nikon’s new EXPEED 4A image processor—all working to ensure even low light photos and movies are beautifully detailed. The super responsive touchscreen lets you do everything with a tap or a finger swipe, and creative shooting modes offer intuitive artistic freedom; built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to connect, share, and create on the go. Your perfect movie partner, the portable Nikon 1 J4 harnesses the full potential of its phase-detection AF system to capture precisely focused action footage, and new movie modes put the cinematographer in you centre stage. Fully compatible with the growing range of 1 NIKKOR lenses, the Nikon 1 J4 gives you the freedom to swap perspectives with ease, and the new 1 NIKKOR VR 10–30mm f/3.5–5.6 PD-ZOOM kit lens ensures you’re ready to capture stunning images right out of the box. As the world’s first interchangeable lens with an electronically controlled lens cover1, this new kit lens delivers instant shooting and superior portability.

Thuan Bui, Product Manager for Nikon 1 range at Nikon UK, says: “The new Nikon 1 J4 is perfect for active photographers who want more from their photography: unbelievable AF speed, lightning fast continuous shooting, and the new CMOS sensor combine with intuitive touchscreen operation and exciting creative functions to offer the ultimate in fast, portable shooting. Plus the growing range of interchangeable 1 NIKKOR lenses means you can get creative with your photography using different focal ranges for new perspectives. Small, solid, and a pleasure to hold, the Nikon 1 J4 is a system camera that delivers quality performance, effortless handling, and a distinct sense of style.”

Remarkable images With a large 18.4-megapixel CMOS sensor and ISO 160–12800, you can trust your memories to the Nikon 1 J4. Designed without an optical low-pass filter, the fast CX-format sensor makes the most of every megapixel to deliver richly detailed images even when you shoot in dim light. You can crop photos without losing any detail, and movies are sharp and clear. The EXPEED 4A dual-engine image processor ensures high-speed operation and exceptional results: one engine enables superior noise reduction, extraordinary sharpness, and richly graded images. The other ensures fast, reliable performance and seamless continuous shooting.

Incredible speed—breathtaking action Ready in an instant, the Nikon 1 J4 won’t let you down when the action speeds up. Faster than a D-SLR, the camera offers blazingly quick continuous shooting speeds of up to 20 fps with continuous autofocus, and the camera can snap 20 RAW format images at up to 60 fps with focus fixed at the first frame. Every one of those split-second wonders is captured with pinpoint precision thanks to the Nikon 1 hybrid AF system, which uses 171 autofocus points (increased from 135 points) to lock quickly onto your subject. An impressive 105 phase-detection AF points—the same kind of AF as used in D-SLRs—are evenly spaced across the middle of the frame for spectacular action focusing and sharp movie shooting. Contrast-detect AF points extend to the edge of the frame and enable remarkably sharp detail, even in difficult lighting situations. Built to let you capture moments that come and go in a heartbeat, the camera responds instantaneously and the 1 NIKKOR VR 10–30mm f/3.5–5.6 PD-ZOOM kit lens enhances shooting speed by extending the instant you turn the camera on and retracting the moment you turn it off.

Touch panel simplicity Equipped with a super responsive touchscreen and built-in Wi-Fi, the small, fast, and perfectly formed Nikon 1 J4 is a joy to use. The electrostatic 7.5-cm (3.0-in.) 1037k-dot LCD touchscreen enables you to focus, shoot, and adjust key settings, or preview creative functions, simply by tapping the screen. You can also combine touch operation with conventional controls: select the AF point by tapping on the monitor, then shoot with the shutter-release button. Built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to do more with your images via a smart device: Send high-quality images straight from the camera to your smartphone or tablet for instant sharing², store images on your smart device, or access creative photo apps. A pleasure to be seen with, the exquisite minimal design boasts precisely squared, seamless edges that enhance the beauty of the camera’s aluminium body.

Go cinematic From Full HD movies to colourful travelogues, Nikon 1 is your perfect movie partner. The smart choice for fuss-free filming, the Nikon 1 J4 shoots smooth action footage and boasts exciting movie modes that make it easy to add a touch of cinematic magic. As with all Nikon 1 cameras, the Nikon 1 J4 lets you capture high-resolution stills while filming simply by pressing the shutter-release button; Nikon’s new Auto Image Capture function analyses every frame and automatically snaps photos when conditions are best. New movie modes make it easy to create arresting clips: energise street scenes with Fast Motion, put an animated stop-motion feel on the passage of time with Jump Cut, or get expressive with to-the-point 4-Second Movie clips (you can stitch 8 together). Film in advanced movie mode and you can achieve dramatic effects with Slow Motion, a function that plays back a three-second, 120 fps HD movie clip over 12 seconds.

Nikon 1 innovations Original Nikon 1 innovations offer quick and easy ways to always get the best shot or turn the ordinary into the extraordinary in-camera. The acclaimed Best Moment Capture mode now features Nikon’s new Active Selection function, which snaps up to 20 full-resolution shots in less than a second and lets you choose the one to keep. The all-new Creative Palette, available in the camera’s Creative Mode, offers a new way to apply artistic, studio-quality filters to photos before you shoot. Creative Palette adjusts brightness, saturation, and white balance as it cycles through various effects: all you need to do is slide your finger around the ring on the touchscreen, or rotate the multi selector, and the on-screen image changes to show you what you will capture the moment you take the shot.

Expandable system Change perspectives with Nikon’s range of premium 1 NIKKOR lenses. All 1 NIKKOR lenses deliver the kind of high-performance optics you’ve come to expect from Nikon, and they are all optimised for movie recording. Their compact size and light weight contribute to the Nikon 1 system’s convenient portability, without sacrificing image quality. Pack the 1 NIKKOR 30–110mm lens to capture distant subjects. Grab the compact and stylish 10–100mm zoom lens with wide-angle capability for superb versatility, or use the 1 NIKKOR 18.5mm prime lens for portraits with smooth bokeh.

¹As of February 7, 2014: among power-drive zoom lenses for digital cameras with interchangeable lenses. Based on Nikon research.

²To use the built-in Wi-Fi, simply download the free Wireless Mobile Utility to your smartphone or tablet. Compatible with iOS™ and Android™ smart devices, the utility can be downloaded for free from Google Play™ and the Apple App Store™. Android, Google, Google Play, YouTube, and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc.

Comments

Start by taking the Nikon brand off the champagne table. We are left with a familiar question. Is there al sensor format between FourThirds and 1:1.6 (two-thirds) that we can wrap a conveniently sized camera around? Canon's answer is "no, here's a nice lens, why bother?" Nikon's fairy dust marketing says "yes." The rest of us are left with a problem. We'd love to have full-frame performance in a pocket camera, but we are wide awake to the toy camera. You can't have it all, small. Compared to a phone (toy camera), good 12-megapixel pocket cameras take AWESOME pictures. See SX-280HS... Have a look at XZ-2, G16, and others like them. If you decide that small wins, these two-thirds cameras do very well, especially when furnished with faster lenses. Three thirds, geddit, between two and four. Sony's got some lovely stuff, one-ish. This category is pricey and takes pictures almost as well as some stuff that costs less. And like the FourThirds, no fittie in pocket either.

Screw Nikon. They finally make a decent J Series camera and they're not selling it in the USA? I guess if you want one you'll have to buy it on ebay from one of the Jap sites at a 30 to 40% premium. I wonder if anyone at Nikon has an IQ above room temperature.

Years ago I dismissed the Nikon 1 system, because of their high price and small sensor, which I assumed would make very noisy photos. Since I first saw this article yesterday I have looked into the Nikon 1 system more, reviewing photo samples and checking the lens performance. With prices like the J1 is at now ($229 with two lenses), the system looks MUCH more attractive to me than it did in the past. Considering the fact that you have access to the entire Nikon lens system with an adapter, the little 1 system cameras really have a lot of appeal . . . especially the cheaper ones. As a diminutive, light back-up and special-purpose camera, the J1 or any of the 1 system cameras are very attractive to me now. I would like to pair a J1 with a D5300 and a few lenses, with an adapter. I think that would make a great travel kit.

This new camera, though expensive, is another step forward in the sytem. I'm glad to see Nikon continuing to build a system around the 1" sensor.

1) Make a CX 10mm f1.8 pancake and bundle it with the J4 for $599. 2) Make a CX 18.5mm f1.4 prime and sell it for $300 or less3) Add the RX10's video features along with external mic and headphone ports to the V4. Bundle it with a viewfinder and that crappy 10-30 PZ for $799The 30-110 is pretty cool, gives good reach for cheap. That part's already done.

I also think they'd be wise to introduce a <$500 zoom that goes out to at least 200mm and stays within the aperture range that gives good AF on the sensor (f5.6?). Should easily be able to make that under a pound too. 200mm DX glass with an adapter is that weight for god's sake.

I sooo wish Nikon would read these comments, bur looking at their linup, you know they never do. Like where is the FF-sensor in a d3300 body? I wouldnt even care about other companies mirrorless-offerings it they just released that.

I don't know what kind of viewfinder you think you'd have in that camera. The D3300's viewfinder covers a very small area of a FF lens. You're basically asking Nikon for an EVF FX SLR with OSPDAF. That's not something easy for them to do.

I would be interested in a full-frame sensor in a Nikon N65 style body. Just the basics, no gimmicks. It would not have to even have a pentaprism, a pentamirror would do. They could resurrect the CAM900 AF module for it, or perhaps the CAM1300 from the F100. Give it a nice flash sync of 1/250 sec, plus FP and it's a great camera. I don't care for video personally for this kind of body, but to be "competitive" I guess the camera would have to have it.

Also it may be difficult to fit a 3 inch screen on such a small body, but I wouldn't care. The screen could be smaller for my needs, however I could appreciate live histogram in live view, plus exposure compensation preview in live view.

They take SD cards, and you can put a microSD card in an adapter. It's stooooopid markeing crap. The fact is EVERY camera is capable of taking microSD, using adapters. I've been doing that for years and years . . . because I have SD card slots in my computers, but no CF card slot. So I use an SD to CF adapter. I don't like to use regular SD cards though, because the write protect tab breaks, making the card useless. If I use a microSD card I can just move the card to another microSD to SD adapter and put that adapter with the card in it into my SD to CF adapter. Surprisingly I have had very little problem with this three-layered memory card set-up . . . and some day I will be able to use a smart phone to view my photos! lol

I believe it has a lot to do with the free returns policy in the USA unlike the rest of the world where it's being abused by people just wanting to test out a new camera and then returning it for a full refund when they don't like it, so it can only be sold again as 'refurbished' at a discount. This is the reason colour combinations aren't as available in the USA because it's difficult to re-sell a returned pink and purple Pentax K-50. In Asia where these cameras/combos are available, they have a no returns policy unless it's faulty.

That's not really true anymore. Basically, the market is currently divided in to thirds: Asia, Europe, and the Americas (the smallest market of the big three).

The Americas accounted for 30% of the world camera market for CIPA member companies in 2012. The European market was slightly larger at 33%. Asia (inc. Japan) was also 33% of the market.

By 2020 Asia, without even including Japan, is likely to become the biggest market. Of course, most of that is down to the growth in China.

As someone who's sitting in a hotel in China writing this comment right now, I can tell you that even in the three years I've been coming here, the growth in consumer spending is astonishing.

Of course the US remains a vitally important market. No one would want to walk away from a quarter (I'm guessing the US accounts for 25% on it's own) of the market, but the late 20th century view that if you fail in the US you have failed period, is no longer true and is moving further from the truth ever year.

Wrong. They don't sell the 50mm f1.0 lens here either. Have they failed? The U.S. market isn't the only market. In fact, the Asian market is more important than the U.S. market. Asian people, including Japan, Taiwan, China, and other wealthy Asian nations spend more money on cool little cameras and other gadgets, like this one. Face it. YOU are not living in the center of the Universe.

It's not that they are sub-par, but they see Americans as people who are not "embracing" the small cameras. They think it is a size thing - that Americans want things that are bigger, like big schlongs and big breasteses and big cars. Sometimes they don't seem to have a clue. We LOVE tiny little tech stuff . . . as long as it is awesome! Give us awesome, and we will buy the hell out of it!

1 inch sensor. Not even BSI. If Nikon REALLY wanted the mirrorless to take off, they should have taken a page off Sony's RX10: Full frame video capture and uncompressed video over HDMI. The movie making enthusiast market is GROWING, but alas, the execs are clueless again. The only saving faith would be this mythical D9300... I'm happy with my D600 and D7100 but that does not mean I'm happy with their direction...

The D5300 is good . . . a little expensive compared to the Sony A65 . . . but for ultimate image quality it is the best fold-out screen DSLR style camera available . . . as far as I know. I LOVE the fact that they included GPS. It took them a LONG time, but they finally did it! Yay! What direction are they going? I think they are going o.k. I'd like to see a D400, but other than that I think they're going a good job . . . except for the debacle with the D600 and conversion to the D610. Wow. I just hope they get the AW1 fixed and back into the channel and then follow it with an AW2, with the new sensor and a nice, big viewfinder . . . and one or two more waterproof lenses. I see a big future for those AWx cameras.

You need to understand that these little cameras make great ultra-portable and functional back-ups for full-size cameras, because they can use the same lenses! Just get the adapter. Is the V2 expensive? Yes . . . maybe a little TOO expensive. But it's awesome! A 2.7 crop sensor is AWESOME too . . . if the image quality is good, like it is from these little cameras. Birders are not the only people who need this 2.7 crop sensor. How about sports shooters? With a V2 and a 70-200mm f2.8 on an adapter you get the equivalent of a 540mm f2.8 with 15 fps operation. Beat that . . . go on . . .beat that. Seriously. For the news and even sports magazine size prints . . . 14 megapixels is enough . . . even with a little noise (I admit that 800 ISO in these little things is fairly noisy, but not terribly worse than the D2x or D300, and those were only 12 megapixels and slow shooters - the V2 is 14 megapixels!).

From a review at B&H, "Let's get a couple things straight right out of the gate. This isn't a DSLR - it lacks the high ISO performance and much of the flexibility of most modern DSLR. It is also not a Point & Shoot (although like most cameras today, you can certainly use it like that.

What the Nikon 1 is, is petite. It won't slip into your pocket but it is light. The lenses are light. It won't intimidate people when you point it at them. It fits in your briefcase and doesn't require a backpack to take a complement of lenses along.

But the surprising thing is the image quality. . . . at low ISO's it is excellent and at high ISO's it is certainly good enough for small prints or WEB postings....

And then you add in the FT1 - and my (relatively cheap) 35 1.8g is now a 90+mm 1,8, my 70-200 is now a 200-540, and my 300 is now an 810mm f4. Consider that I now have a 30fps 800mm f4 which in good light can rival most any DSLR of just a couple years ago.

I'm really liking the J4. It seems a product well done considering the target audience. Integrated WiFi and the touch screen were a must since time ago, so they just put the camera at its rival's level, but I think a lot of people will like the PD 10-30 lens with its automatic cover lens. Also I find it more attractive than the previous J's.

And the price as you say: Nikon Deutschland says in the press release it will be 589 € with the 10-30 PD. Seems quite reasonable to me, and very in-line with its rivals.

What's the point? The Nikon 1 system is a dog. Nikon has allowed it to languish, not offering a decent range of lenses. Even though they've had years to develop a half-dozen new lenses for this system, they have not done so. Why? Because they really don't give a rat's ass about the Nikon 1 system. People who buy this camera are ignorant. It's a stupid system to buy into. If Nikon had treated it more seriously, I would not be saying this, but they have made a toy, and that's basically the way I see it, because that is the way they seem to see it too.

So sad. It COULD have been a cool thing. It looked promising at first. The small (but large) sensor means that excellent lenses could be made for this system at a fraction of the price of full-frame lenses, and significantly cheaper than the lenses made for APS-C system lenses. But Nikon hasn't done it. They have dropped the ball.

I went to a talk by a very well-regarded wildlife photographer. He uses a Nikon 1 for some long stuff, said it was great. He was not very shouty about equipment though so maybe he is one of those ignorant people you mentioned.

Many people said the same thing when Nikon launched the D1, D100.. There were only 2 DX lenses, that were launched more than 24 months later, 17-55 and 12-24, and that the DX format is a dead horse and blah blah blah.. 14years on, DX is still here.. And I see the CX format to be around too.. There are 5 good lenses for the CX, albeit not fast lenses, but they are optical very good lenses.. I think that's a good start..

While I would agree that Nikon could have had a better vision for the system, I don't think the system can be called "a dog." And the lenses keep coming so.. I mean, it took a while also for m4/3rds - Fuji is really the only recent company that came out of zero to a lot of lenses pretty fast.

As for people who buy being ignorant, I am going to have to disagree with such market statement. I am looking into the system now because m4/3rds does not offer what I would like at the moment.

The one who was ignorant when I wrote that was ME. I have since looked into the system more and realized that I didn't really know what I was talking about. I had forgotten that there is an adapter that lets someone mount their 70-200mm f2.8 VR on one of these little cameras and have a kick-ass long range shooter, perfect for shooting baseball, football, whatever . . . and yes birds and other small animals too. The image quality I found in the reviews and at pixel-peeper.com was quite surprising. This new body would make a great back-up (with the adapter) and special-purpose camera for someone who shoots with a D7000 or even a D7100. I think maybe Nikon has not made the D400 because they expect people who want more speed with a crop sensor to buy a V2 or something. In fact, everyone who has a D300 or D300s and uses their camera for shooting games should look at the V2.

I haven't heard much about that FT1 adapter for the Nikon 1 series. What are peoples opinions on it? Is it worth while? Because these are fantastic camera's from what i've heard from the Nikon Representative yesterday, and from what i've read. But If I get one, i'm pretty sure i'll want to get the FT1 to put my Nikkor glass on that sick puppy. But I need some more info on it.

Well, you will keep AF with AF-S lenses, but only on the central point. VR also works nicely.

If you want to go telephoto it gives you some interesting options: a 200 mm lens turn into a 540 mm equivalent, for example, or the 85/1.8 G turns into a 230 mm equivalent. Also in macro shoting it can delivers some really nice results.

Anyway, I got into the 1 system mainly for the adapter, but I have ended liking the native lenses. But I'm keeping my dSLRs also...

They buyers are uneducated. Nikon needs to educate people. I suspect this is why Nikon has not made many new lenses for this system (that we have available here in the U.S.). They understand that Americans take a long time to accept something. I'm just happy that they have stuck with this little 1 system. It looks more and more promising. I guess they don't need to enter the m4/3 market after-all. I REALLY like the AW1. I hope they start shipping those again soon. I want to see an AW2 with a nice, big viewfinder!

I don't think so. Nikon seems to be sticking with this line. They just introduced a new, exorbitantly expensive 70-300mm lens for the 1 system. I don't think they would do that unless they plan to keep going with it. I think people are starting to catch on. It will take time, and I think Nikon knows that.

First, the new Canon M and now this new Nikon 1 . . . both "NOT FOR SALE IN THE USA". Personally, I wouldn't buy either one but it would seem they are waiving the white flag with the USA with these kind of cameras and probably doing us a favor LOL. Meanwhile, Fuji, Oly and Panny continue to move forward.

How is Nikon not moving forward here? Perhaps they've chosen to not release this in the US market because they know the US market is people with ADD when it comes to brand loyalty. They understand most American photographers are just gear heads. Why would they release a camera to market where people wouldn't make good use of a camera like this. They know that all people are going to do is bitch. because it wasn't made with advancements that weren't all built by the same electronics monopoly with a name that starts with $.

Nikon is not moving forward here, because they do not take the 1 system seriously. They still have less than 5 lenses under $200 available (more if you include the different colored versions of the same lenses though). They only just introduced a long zoom for this system. How can it take SO long? It costs almost $1,000 and isn't available yet. How can they expect anyone to take such a thing seriously? I can get a Nikon 70-300mm lens for a Nikon DSLR at about 30% less cost, and the IQ will be superior (though not as telephoto). Why would a 70-300mm lens cost so much for the diminutive 1 system? The fact is it shouldn't cost so much. The 30-110mm is only $250. Why can't they make a 50-200mm f3.5-5.6 for $350? They COULD, but they don't, because they really don't care to make this system viable. I'm not saying they shouldn't make serious lenses the 1 system, like a 300mm f4 or a 500mm f5.6 or something like that (lenses they COULD sell for $1,000). I'm saying they need to make more!

I think you are correct. 1" is a good step up from the little sensors of the past compact cameras, and cell phones can't compete. Samsung is serious about competing, and they will produce more than a dozen lenses for NX mini in the first year or two. Samsung is going to eat Nikon, Canon, and Sony for lunch, the way they have done to other companies already in the cell phone and TV markets. Samsung knows how to compete. They know how to innovate, and they make good quality products. They take no prisoners, and they will DESTROY most of the Japanese companies, which is something we need. For too long those Japanese companies have dominated in the marketplace, getting almost nowhere, offering piddly little improvements, piece-meal here and there. Now Samsung is going to change the game and make those big companies wake up and do something real or die. GO SAMSUNG!

There were 4 megapixel cameras 10 years ago. Processors double in complexity every 18 months. Even if it took 2 years for sensors, it should have happened every 2 years from 2004 to now. That is 5 generations of doubling. Even if they had skipped one generation of doubling, they would have doubled from 4 to 8, then from 8 to 16, then from 16 to 32, and now we should have a 64 megapixel sensor. We don't . . . and we won't for years to come. Samsung will push it though.

Please tell me how Nokia can put a 46 megapixel sensor in a tiny little cell phone, if a 64 megapixel sensor is not possible in an APS-C or even a 1" sensor camera? The answer is that they COULD make a 46 megapixel BSI sensor for a DSLR or even a 1" sensor camera. But they don't, because they haven't had to. Now Samsung is going to push the technology innovation and MAKE it happen. The same sort of thing needs to happen in the computer industry. Apple STILL doesn't put quad-core processors in most of their computers!

YES. I think more processors is automatically an innovation . . . especially when OTHER computers DO have more processors. You can get 12 cores in some processors. Please tell me how that ISN'T an innovation. The cores can be shut down independently to ramp up and down power usage. It would be GREAT to see at least an 8-core mobile processor . . . and if Apple had pushed for it Intel would have made one. Now Samsung has put one in a version of their frickin' cell phone! Ahhhhh! WTF?!?!

For the people who say stuf about photons . . . educate yourself about the sizes of the sensors in point-and-shoot cameras please. 16 megapixels in a sensor less than 1/8 the size of a 1" sensor. Really! They still work though, don't they?!? We probably COULD have an 80 megapixel BSI sensor in one of these little 1" cameras by now (though it would probably cost another $1,000). You say Sony is innovating so much, but the reality is they have been making 24 megapixel APS-C sensors for years. What's next?

Did the mistake myself of buying the e-pm2 double lens kit a while ago. I thought "what a deal!" Well any shutter speed under 1/250 gives shutter shock, thats shakes the camera so the images get blurry. So, I will NEVER buy a camera a with mechanical shutter again, only electronic or global shutter. My fantastix Nikon J1 has an electronic shutter, thus giving me sharp photos down to a 1/15s.

It all depends what you want as a photographer. The J4 has an auto focus the EPM2 can only dream about. And the EPM2 makes a clicky noise by the shutter while the J4 has pure silence. The video capabilities of the J4 are also better.

Not saying the EPM2 is bad or a bad deal, but it's hardly the slam dunk you propose.

This camera system doesn't do it for me. No viewfinder and slow, EXPENSIVE lenses are the reasons. The cheap bodies are what the supermarket industry calls a loss leader; they get you in the store with an underpriced item, so that you buy everything else from them.

I know that compared with DLSR APS and FF systems they lag in price/size relationship (I mean the 1's lenses are more expensive in relation with its size), but compare them with other mirrorless lenses and they are the cheapest ones in almost all categories.

I admit the 30-110mm is a reasonably good value . . . considering it is a Nikon lens. The 10-30mm is also reasonable. But Nikon only makes 3 lenses under $200! That's not enough. They should have half a dozen, and they should have 3 or 4 lenses between $200 and $300. They should also have 3 or 4 lenses between $300 and $400. It would be cool if they had 5 or 6 stellar quality lenses between $500 and $1,000 also. But Nikon doesn't take the system seriously enough to make all this happen. They are silly and short-sighted. Now that Samsung has entered the market, they will see that the 1" market will grow and become a real market. It's sad that another company has to prove this to Nikon. It's typical of an old, traditional company's attitude. Only innovate a little. Too much risk to try harder. This is why it took Elon Musk, a true innovator, to create real electric cars. I'm glad to see success as a reward for his commitment to innovation. I wish we had someone like him in this market.

Nikon is just trying too hard now to make this camera system fail. They test out some good features that they will put on DSLRs soon but then cripple the camera with new batteries, non-typical SD cards, and ridiculous initial price.

It's never too late. Nikon COULD make it work, if they were to innovate and make three or four new, good lenses and a couple new, good cameras. They need to keep their prices down where they should be though. They also need to do a marketing blitz along with the new cameras. The problem is they now have to compete against Samsung for this small market segment. That will make it extra difficult.

IF it came with a built-in zoom lens, it might have been something to consider. Right now, it looks like a small bar of soap with a hugh lens on it making it way too big to be carried conveniently. The lens is way too slow and there are not enough of them for the system. Lets hope the P8000 rumors are true, this camera is a joke!

One of my "pet peeves" is small cameras that could have a small "grip" on the front, but don't. To me, unless the lens fully retracts into the body so the front is completely level, the designers might as well have a grip + larger battery ... and full size SD card in the case of the J1 thru J4.

As long as the lens protrudes somewhat from the rest of the body when powered off, you might as well have a grip that protrudes a similar amount.

For example, my S110 is quite a small camera that easily goes in a normal size shirt pocket. I'm mostly really happy with it, except for limited battery life and no grip.

When powered off, there is still about 3/16" of the lens protruding (~5mm). If there was a grip that protruded the same 3/16" inch, it wouldn't detract at all from being pocketable. Plus, the battery could be larger.

What they SHOULD do is make a professional level 20 MP camera with a 1" sensor . . . and a few new, high-quality lenses. What I'm thinking is a small competitor to the Panasonic GH4. They could charge $1,000 for it, making it a serious competitor to the GH4 and other m4/3 system offerings. In that case a different, larger battery would be welcome. They could also make a competitor to the Panasonic GX7. Both could have tilt-up, high-resolution viewfinders, and both could be under $1,000. The Panasonic cameras are both over $1,000. Unfortunately the V2 and V3 already have established higher prices than that. No wonder people don't buy these cameras much.

I think that at 278 grams, the Nikon V2 is not a bad deal, compared to the competition. The fact that they have an entry-level camera for just $230 with a lens makes the Nikon 1 system a great and leading offering in the 1" mirrorless market. With cameras like the Nikon 1 AW1, with waterproof zoom lens, I can't understand why Nikon would not be kicking ass in the mirrorless market everywhere. That camera is backordered at B&H right now. It's so sad that Nikon has not made a good, extensive line of lenses for these things (including f1.2 aperture primes, macro lenses, a 5mm fisheye, and some wide-aperture long zooms, like a 50-150mm f2 and a 70-200mm f2.8). At least they have a waterproof zoom lens and a good wide-angle lens with VR. (Nice work Nikon!) One issue I have with the V2 is the slow start-up. Why does it take so long to get running?!?

Maybe Nikon will introduce a replacement for the 1 V2 soon. This camera may be just something smaller, which they are introducing earlier, before their bigger new camera is ready. But I agree with you about the lenses. It is appalling that they have not made more new lenses for this system. I think they are not really serious about this system. It's like they are using it as some sort of technology development platform or something.

That may just be a temporary inventory thing -- i.e. Nikon USA needs a few more months to sell through older inventory. There's nothing stopping them from starting to sell this model next fall, for example.

Well, but in that case the Sonys doesn't seem to be "better camera", which is what Mike said :)

In fact I have both the RX100 and the Nikon 1 system (several bodies and lenses), and I have done some spontaneous action photos (bikes on road) using the RX100. Using manual exposure and locking AF (or MF) isn't that difficult to obtain good results. But when I'm planning to do that, I take the 1 system, whatever body.

But I find very hard to conclude in a bold way what is best talking in a very general way: a compact camera "ended" or an expandable system. Both have their strengths and faults.

1. no EVF 2. again, a new battery? c'mon Nikon - you can do it better...i can use my Nikon 1 V1 Battery inside my D7000, that's cool. 3. the price...way too high 4. missing affordable, fast (prime) lenses, for instance a 13mm/1.8 FF equal to 35mm, we only have the 18.5/1.8 (50mm) so far, sadly.

If only the price was right, it would sell. Love the metallic orange body.Has a lot going for it, larger sensor than p&s, choice of quality lenses, touch screen, wi fi and control from smartphone, fast AF.

Actually I kinda like the push button collapsible lenses.. I have 2 of them the 6.7-13mm and the 10-100mm.. Its very simple, push turn the camera come on, and off in reverse. The only catch if the camera was in review mode, then it doenst turn off when collapsed.

At first I thought it would be a fiddly feature, but I have it quite intuitive. It's to me almost akin to the on-off switch around the shutter release. But that just me..

Naveed the sensor is a mere 1 inch one.The rx100 is a 1.8-4.9 if I recall right.They need to compensate since all the competitors simply have higher quality sensors. An f2.8-4 would close the gap a little bit. However they simply remain cheapskates.

Barnet, not a big deal dude!! Sony RX100 have to get that fast lens (at wide end) to make any sense.

For Nikon, I am taking the kit lens, just as a kit lens. Slow, cheap and sluggish. I will keep it just for casual day out, as its small, easy and fun. But the camera is giving you nikon mount with adapter that means, other than an pocketable camera its excellent as a second camera for Nikon professionals where they would prefer its crop factor.

Also its auto focus system and burst shooting mode are awesome. I clearly see some potential in this camera!

For instance am using prime lenses on my m43 camera and never invested in any kit lens. But mostly am shooting at apertures between f4 to f6. This lens should be very good for those scenarios. landscapes, daytime shots etc.

to be competitive, i wonder, any of nikon 1 systems that support external flash sync speed up to 1/16000 a'la D1 series? or any early nikon's electronic shutter 6MP dslr (D70, D70s, D50, D40).

Really longing for such features, none of current dslr crop support anything higher than 1/320s sync speed (unless you buy hss support flash, and that can be quite costly and none available with monolight).

I love to use my 50/1.4 wide open in the bright daylight for that bokeh, yet not want wasting battery on my flash with ND filter.Heck, even using my old cheap manual flash, i could control it from D1x, just set SS to 1/8000 - 1/16000 for FEC :D

Akku is not German slang, it is normal German and it means 'rechargeable battery". Just like in Dutch in German there are different words for non rechargeable battery (batterie) and rechargeable battery (akku).

So what, it's an ILC?ILC doesn't have dedicated slow lenses per definition. It's not the domain of APS-C and 35mmFF only.There are Fuji and Panasonic with F1.2 lenses, not slow in my book, and then there's Voightlander for mFT F0.95 which is extremely fast.

it is a good camera as it is .. we have seen so many IBIS ILCs from Olympus those are problematic in smaller bodies ... so no thank you!

Small sensor? Nikon 1 system will remain CX .. look else where .. go for Fuji or Sony APSC or m43 or Fullframe Sony .. you have so many options these days ...

The main target for this camera is for Nikon pro with bigger bodies who want to get hold of a smaller pocketable body with a daytime walk-around smallish kit lens and top-notch AF system to use it with their long professional tele lenses to get the extra reach with an adapter.

or for newbies who want to move from compacts to an ILC and later get further in this with bigger lenses from other systems.

If that's not you, it is not for you. I agree it is not an ideal complete system, and probably it's not meant to be!!

Naveed, what your saying I think is that Nikon developed this camera for 7 people. The 3 remaining professional photographers in the world, the 2 doctors hobbyists with exotic long glass the and for mobile phone users who are too dumb to see Olympus, Pannie, Sony and Fuji?But hang on, this is the entry level version.. the V1 is the "pro" version....Its not a big market you envision for 2 current 1 models and the 4-6 prevo=ious 1 models that seem to remain unsold (if late night TV marketing is to be believed)....

It's actually for people like me, on the move and always taking pictures.. I am not a professional photographer, but my 1 AW1 is always with me, with 2 lenses the 6.7-13mm and 10-100mm.. Btw, I also shoot with FX lenses.. and I have loads of old Nikkor manual focus lenses. I had the Olympus PEN EP1 and even a Panasonic.. and I didnt like them..

I was skeptical about not having an ovf, and abhor evfs. But in the end I find shooting with an LCD as the main point of viewing just as easy as an ovf, (with some difficulties in bright light)..Perhaps I am one of those 7 people but I have played the field, I am not a doctor hobbyist or 3 remaining profession photogs.. I am a network engineer who still prefers configuring stuff using cli.. I build model ships.. and I am Boy Scout leader, as well as I teach photography at the local community center.. So which category do I fall under?

The category that just wants a good resolution camera.. light weight, and shoot good images most time. And tbc

and makes do with the available tech that is at hand to be mobile and fluid. Maybe I am the kinda that just wants a tool, and find ways to make do with whatever short comings there may seem to be.. maybe I am the kind that took time to load film in large format backs and lugged around LF equipment to shot.. or MF equipment to shoot..

OK maybe my fingers have catched the keyboard too quickly. First I haven't found a reason why more megapixels or more phase-detect focus points or additional 115800 pixels on lcd - would occupy so much space, so that it would be necesseary to use smaller internal card reader to even keep the size. But OK - wifi is a "real" feature, which may need some additional space.Interesting camera anyway. No matter wifi and micro sd. I'm waiting for 'independent' info about updated sensor and autofocus.

Starting October 1st, Getty Images will no longer accept images in which the models have been Photoshopped to "look thinner or larger." The change was made due to a French law that requires disclosure of such images.

A court ruling our of Newton, Massachusetts has set an important legal precedent for drone pilots: federal drone laws will now trump local drone regulations in situations where the two are in conflict.

macOS High Sierra came out today, but if you use a Wacom tablet you need to wait a few weeks before you upgrade. According to Wacom, they won't have a compatible driver ready for you until "late October."

Vitec, the company that owns popular accessory maker Manfrotto, has just acquired JOBY and Lowepro for a cool $10.3 million in cash. The acquisition adds JOBY and Lowepro to Vitec's already sizable collection of camera gear brands.

A veteran photojournalist, Rick Wilking secured a spot in the path of totality for the August solar eclipse. While things didn't quite pan out as predicted, an unexpected subject in the sky and a quick reaction made for a once-in-a-lifetime shot.